41.7% of young Spaniards are unemployed, a figure that has increased by 15.5 points in the last year. In Spain, unemployment in general continues growing, however, youth unemployment is the most worrying fact that already exceeded the rate of 57% in October, placing Spain among the countries with most under 25 people out of work.
This horrible fact has several consequences, and in this post I will talk about the two that I think are the most important.
Emigration
The most important factor that is affecting the decisions of young people to go abroad to work is the current economic crisis that is gripping the country. The lack of employment opportunities for young people, including those who have a wonderful curriculum provides the need to emigrate to other countries, especially to northern and central Europe, in order to find work.
Therefore, very similar to what happened in the 70s, the Spanish youth uses emigration as a release from the catastrophic current economic situation of our country.
According to the National Statistics Institute (INE), in 2012 Spain was, in the third consecutive year, a source country of emigrants. Among these Spanish emigrants, approximately 14,000 were young (hovering around 25 years).
Another important fact offered by the INE is the young people’s unemployment rate (under 25 years old): 55.13% in 2012. Considering this information, it is completely understandable that the Spanish people end up leaving the country (with all the consequences that entails) to go somewhere, where all the effort done in their studies has its reward. The main countries receiving these immigrants are the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Ecuador.
On the other hand, some people don’t agree with the spanish young emigration. They talk about the need to fight for the country, encouraging young people not to go to other countries. Their arguments are based on that it is understandable that Spain now doesn’t like anybody because it is “sick, and depressed” but that is why we need everyone to “take care” of the country and make it better. Above all, these are theories, each one has its own opinion and each one makes decisions they deem appropriate.
Health emergency
According to a study for the World Health Organization (WHO) on inequalities health in Europe, whose author is Michael Marmot, the high youth unemployment in Spain “is a health emergency” that, if it is not tackled, it will have consequences for future generations. Marmot emphasized that the Spanish government should introduce social protection measures to prevent the deterioration of the younger generation, who faces the risk of mental problems and a higher mortality rate.
In conclusion, there are many consequences of this prevailing youth unemployment in Spain right now, an unpleasant situation that the whole society should try to eradicate with the help of the state, families and young people themselves.
References:
– The family watch, (January 2012) El desempleo juvenil en tiempo de crisis y sus consecuencias (December 21, 2013) http://www.thefamilywatch.org/Informe2011.pdf
– Scheller Alissa (November 11, 2013) Hoff port Business, Unemployment Plagues Young People Around The World (December 21, 2013) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/07/youth-unemployment-worldwide-joblessness_n_4019601.html
– Burgen Stephen, (August 30, 2013); The guardian, Spain youth unemployment reaches record 56.1%; (December 21, 2013) http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/aug/30/spain-youth-unemployment-record-high
